Ulster County Executive Urges Release of Afghan Refugee, Bard Student Detained by ICE

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger is calling for the immediate release of a New Paltz resident and Bard College student who remains detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite a determination that he faces credible danger if returned to Afghanistan.

In a letter sent Tuesday to the Newark ICE Field Office, Metzger urged officials to release Ali Sajad Faqirzada, who fled the Taliban with his family in 2022 and has lived in the Hudson Valley for more than three years.

“Ali has distinguished himself through his integrity, work ethic, and deep commitment to both his loved ones and the broader community,” Metzger wrote. “I urge his immediate release and that he be returned to his family and our community.”

Faqirzada, a full-time computer science student on scholarship at Bard College, also works part-time at a local hospital. His attorneys say he followed every legal step required in the asylum process and was granted a credible fear determination, which typically allows asylum seekers to continue their case while remaining in the United States.

Metzger emphasized that Faqirzada is not a flight risk and has strong community ties, including family members who work locally — one in the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and another at the community college.

The 22-year-old was detained after an interview on Long Island earlier this month. For reasons that remain unclear, immigration authorities recently shifted his case into expedited removal, a fast-track deportation process that bypasses immigration court hearings — despite Faqirzada already being scheduled for one on November 13.

His attorneys with Human Rights First have filed federal petitions to stop the deportation and secure his release. They argue he was living legally under parole while awaiting his asylum case and has complied with all requirements.

“We feel incredibly fortunate that Ali and the Faqirzada family call our county their home,” Metzger wrote. “The separation has devastated his loved ones and our broader community.”

Faqirzada remains detained in New Jersey while the court awaits a federal response to the petitions.

Image: Ali Sajad Faqirzada, an Afghan refugee and Bard College student from New Paltz, was detained by ICE and placed in expedited removal as his attorneys fight for his release. (Credit: Go Fund Me)